Power transmission



sept. 11, 1956 `W. P. SCHMITTER POWER TRANSMISSION 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed May 12, 1949 INVENTOR WA4-rse P. .5c HM n-TEIE A770 Ey w. P. scHMlT'rER 2,762,228

POWER TRANSMISSION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 11, 1956 original Filed may 12, 1949 INVENTOR- N90-ER 95euro l rre-,Q

ATTZ E Y United rates 2,762,228 Patented Sept. 11, 1956 POWER TRANSMISSION Walter P. Schmitter, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to The Falk Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Suhstituted for and continuation ofSerial No. 92,767,

May 12, 1949. This application August 24, 1951, SerialNo. 243,518

'Ihis invention relates to power transmissions.

This application is a substitute for and a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 92,767, tiled May 12, 1949, for Power Transmission.

In many drives, such as ships propeller drives, power is transmitted through a clutch and reversible reduction gearing the servicing of which is dilcult and time consuming because of space limitations. Even with the most rugged clutches known, it becomes necessary to do maintenance work thereon from time to time, and it is quite desirable to have full and complete access to the parts thereof at such times. It is also desirable to have full and ready access to the gearing and to other parts associated with the transmission with a minimum loss of time. In ships drives, particularly, such access to many of the parts can not be had in situ and, as heretofore combined and arranged, such parts can be reached only by dismantling the transmission or major portions thereof, a task which is not only time consuming but, at times prohibitive, particularly when at sea.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a power transmission involving a clutch and gear assembly so constructed and arranged as to permit ready removal of the clutch, as a unit, without disturbing the gear assembly, so as to render the parts of both readily accessible for inspection, replacement or repair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transmission having a clutch and a gear joined by connectors of high torque capacity, and at the same time possessing the qualities of quick releasability and ruggedness and other qualities contributing to smoothness of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clutch and gearing combination which will be readily separable and replaceable and which will avoid diiculties normally resulting from misalignment of the axes thereof upon removal and replacement of either of the major parts of thecombination.

Another object is to provide in a power transmission a clutch mechanism so connected and arranged as to permit the same to float angularly, as a unit, between the driving and driven mechanisms connected thereby, so as to accommodate angular and parallel misalignment between said mechanisms. A transmission involving a clutch, thus arranged, may be utilized to particular advantage when employed as a part of a marine propulsion system, since it may yield to distortions, such as commonly occur in the hull of a ship, without imposing objectionable stresses within the clutch or within the mechanisms to which the clutch is connected.

Objects and advantages other than those above set forth will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view on a plane taken vertically through the axes of a structure embodying the present invention;

Y Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective of the coupling employed between the driving shaft and clutch, in the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Pig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the plane of line III-III of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View of a modiiication of a portion of the present construction.

For purposes of illustration and explanation, the invention is shown and described as embodied in a reversible drive mechanism for marine propulsion systems, although the same may be used to advantage in drive mechanisms of other types and for other purposes. Generally, the illustrated embodiment comprises a clutch unit, including selectively operable forward and reverse clutches,'the unit being shown connected to a driver and to algear sjet driven thereby through torque transmitting connections, which are releasable to permit radial withdrawal of the unit from the transmission and flexible to permit some misalignment between the driver and the gear set so as to avoid objectionable stresses that might otherwise be imposed on the elements of the clutch or other connected parts as a result of misalignment.

Referring to the drawing in which like numerals designate like parts, 5 designates a shaft which is driven in one direction of rotation by a suitable source of power (not shown) and which bears a portion of one of the readily releasable connecting means of the present struc# ture. Such means are shown as comprising (see especially Fig. 2) a ring 6 bolted to a flange on the shaft 5 and formed with bevel faced ears on which are seated a pluralityl of relatively thin flexible rings 7. Bolts 8 extend through the ears on the ring 6 and, through bevel faced washers 9, to attach the rings 7 to the ring 6. The ilcxible rings are also fastened by bevel faced washers lt and bolts 11 to a supporting wheel-like member 15, the whole forming a connector permitting some msaligument of the axes of the driving shaft and a clutch unit and absorbing some shocks. f

Member 15 is connected through a split ring 16 with the driving members 17 and 18 of a clutch unit, veach of which driving members is slotted to receive a plurality of electrical windings (not shown). Such driving clutch members are also supported by a wheel-like member 19 on bearings 20 and wheel-like member 21 on bearings 22 supported on a shaft 23, the shaft having a spider-like member 24 at one end for a purpose to be described. Driving clutch member 17 coacts with a driven member 26 which is mounted on a hub 27 xed on shaft 23 and driving member 18 coacts with a driven member 28 which is mounted on a hub 29 supported on bearing 30 on the shaft 23. The hub 29 has an end provided with a spiderlike member 31 for a purpose to be described. The whole clutch unit is enclosed within a suitable housing indicated at 32.

lt will be noted that the shaft 23 coacts with the hub 27 and the several bearings 20, 22, and 30 and the parts supported thereby to maintain a concentric relation between the driving members 17 and 1S and the driven members 26 and 28 of the dual clutch shown, so that the annular gap therebetween is accurately maintained at a desired uniform thickness.

The clutch unit is connected with a reversible reduction gear set which has a plurality of input shafts to be driven through the clutch, and includes a shaft 36 mounted in axially spaced bearings 37 and 37 in a housing 38,

the shaft 36 having a pinion 39 formed integral therewithl or xed thereon. The pinion 39 meshes with gear 40 which is mounted on a shaft 41 supported in bearings 42, 43 in the housing 38, the shaftV 41 having fixed thereto :1 flange 44 for connection with a shaft to be driven and not shown. The pinion 39 and gear 40 constitute a speed reduction gear set driven by the clutch unit.

The pinion shaft36 has xed thereto a spider-like member 45 which coeacts with spider 24 on shaft 23 for connecting such shafts by way of a exible coupling. The arms of spiders 24 are bevel facedand are severally connected by bolts 49 and bevel faced washers 50y with a plurality of flexible rings 51 whichforrn aY eXible coupling between fshafts 2-3Yand 3 6. l g v VShaft V36 provides support for bearings 55 on wh1ch 1s mountedla hollow shaft or sleeve 56- formed at one endV t i bevelgear 66. meshing with two co-axialbevel gears, one

of which '-isfindicated-Yat.G7-"and which in turn'mesh with a bevel gear sl-iixed'on the shaft 36', all as disclosed 1n the U. S.-1a"tentl 2,304,030'issue'd 'toeWalter P. Schmitter onDece'mber 1, 11942. Y The clutch has been described: asl includin'gra plurality of electrical` windings associated severally with the coupling-driving members 17 and 18 and means is provided for supplying electricrcurrentto such windingsf Electrical connections are taken from" the windings -as indicatedrati 72 to 'one of severalV binding posts 73 in clutch member19. 'Posts 73- extend through a ring 74- joined withV a flanged collar 75 VwhichY is Vfixed to oneend of an electrical conduit 76. Ain electrical receptacle (-'not shownyis' mounted on post'73to receivetheends of electrical conductors (not'shown) eXtending through conduit 76-for supplying electric current to the windings onY clutch members 17 and V18. All of such constructionris well` known andis kaccordingly not illustrated as 4detrimental to clarity-of illustration of mechanical parts shown.V

. Shafts 231 and 36 are/axially aligned and are hollowv to Vreceivetlie conduit` Y76 which projects beyond" the ends of the shaft 36.. The one projecting end yoffthe'conduit 76 isf'supportedv-in a bearing 84)l mounted in av sleeve which is xed in a housing 82 secured tothe gear housing 38. Theiotherzprojecting end of the conduit 76 bears a triple vslip riugst'ructure 83 by which the conductors to Y' the'windings-of coupling'members'17 and 18 maybe in- Vdep'endentlyenergized and such slip rings are severallyk .contactedV byelectrical brushes 84 supported in a brush rigging; 854 mountedvfon'the housing 82. The brushes areV t severallylconnected'with a suitable source offdirect'currentelectricalpower (not shown), the oneb'rush'being a common 'return line from the clutch windings'to the sourcefof'power. Y Y l For forward: driving, the windings of the couplingedrv'- ing-member 17 are energized and Vsuch-driving member is magnetically engagedwivth Vthercoupling'driven'member 26V .andi shaft 23 for transmitting power thereto. The shaft223.' is connected-by flexible coupling 49, 50,51 with the shaft 36 so that gear 39 drives gear 40 andV output" shaft 4L Whenfpowergisto be- VdeliveredV inthe direction reverse `om the given direction, the'windings of clutch Y driving member: 18: are energiz'edfand such driving member 4 Y by simultaneously energizing one set of windings and deenergizing the other ser of windings; When it is desired to do maintenance or repair work on either the clutch or the gear, the bolts joining clutch member and ring 16 i are removed and the two parts of the ring 16 are disconnected so that such ring'parts may be removed. The. electrical Yconductors extending through the conduit 76 are disconnected from'ftheelectricalreceptacle attached to thebinding posts 73. The gear setend plate adjacentv the electricalbrush Astructure 8'4, 85V is removed. The'electrical brush rigging 85 is then pivoted to swingthebrushes 8A- away from the slip rings 83 andthe conduit 76 lis drawntoward the right Vto' clearpclutch shaft 23,.'thel con?.

Y duitslippingout of the collar 75 and through thefbearing 81). The coupling bolts 49 and V60 are thenremoved and the sets of couplingr'ringsl and' 62 Vmay be removed.

' The clutch 17-32 can then be bodily'moved atr right angles to the Vaxis, thereof to provide working space about Y the gearing 36-68 orto allow full'Y access to all partsof the-clutch. Being" supported on shafts 5, 36 andrhub 29 ctr-acting with shaft 56, thereis little'possibility vof`mis-Y exible rings 7, and constituting a exible driving con-k nection between it and the'driverS, while the output end of the clutch unit Yis similarlysupported by two exible couplingsgoneincluding the spiders 24 and 45 and interconnecting rings 5'1- andthe other including the spiders 314 and 57"and'interconnccting rings 62, Vand through. which eachoff' the YdrivenV members 26 and' 28' of thev clutch are separately flexibly connected tothe speed'reduction gear set;n Supported and connected'inthis manner; the clutch Y uniti is angularlyoatable and thus free to accommodate itself tov both parallel andan'gularV misalignment between the driver 5 and the gear set and therebyiavoiding objectionable loads for stresses Ythat *mightY otherwis'e'be imposed -on-the-elementsfof these connected membersv a's Va result-'ofsuchmisalignment. v

@ther types Of-exible couplingsmight beemployed at one-'or both endsof the clutch unit; "For instance,dentalV couplings might-fbefemployedias indicatedinrFigp4. As

'therein shown, vtheshaft 23 is'providedwith a peripherally toothedlendange 99 and-clutch hub-59 is formed with`a peripherallyr toothed end flange 91a Gearing shaft 36j has fixed thereto a disc '941 as` by; means Vofa'key 95 anda nut 96 threaded into shaft 36; Such` disc 94 isperipherally flanged andis internally-'toothed asin a ring'geartoengage the Vteethfof clutch s haftflan'gelQtl and form therewitha releasablefdentalcoupling. Gearing shaft S6isalso `hanged and jtoothedasV :it-106 and a sleeve `lill is 'internally 101 is held in position by a split ring 102 engageable in Y a clutch adjacentthe, teeth 10i)VV on shaft56.

circuits supplying. power to the windings ofthe clutchv f drivenpvmembersr17 and 18 are so interlocked-thatcon- VnectionjofV the windingsv on one of` the driving members The reversal of. directioninpower flow'is-.in factexpeditd.

'When it is-'desired to disengage the clutch and'ge'ar'` partei of the construction shown in Fig. 4, the two parts of ring 102 areV separated and are removed soy that the sleeve 1012 may befslidover shaft Y 56 to disengage fron-rY teeth 91 on'the'clutch shaft-29V; The entire clutch maythen be moved toward tlie'rleft Yof Fig. l by substantiallythe' thickness# effing-16, to Vdisengagei teeth `froin ring. gea'r194 YThe.conduit 76V is then withdrawn fromtherght O''Fig. il, 'thus removing-the lastfcojnnection betrwe'ensha'ftsVV 23fand 36. VItis. thenv `possible"to/move the clutch'iunit at right angles to the axis of thel transmission toprovide space; about the gearing or tov service the clutch itself.

It; 'will thus be. seen that the present 'deviceprovid'es a p ower ltransrru'ssionY in whicha clutch. ist connected? be-V tween the power supply shaft and the gearing bylm'eans which may be.- readily. removed andi replaced to. allow completeremgoval of eitherl 'of the: transmission'devices Y at right angles to the 'axis of the combination.. VSome Vofi .sut-1,11 gonnectorsare showni as beirrg'exible while other connectors are shown as being toothed or dental connectors, but it will be understood that either type of connector may be used in place or lhe other type.

Although but a few embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a power transmission, the combination of a driver, a gear set, a clutch unit disposed between said driver and gear set and providing a releasable driving yconnection therebetween, torque transmitting coupling means between said driver and said clutch unit, and torque transmitting coupling means between said clutch unit and said gear set, both of said coupling means constituting supports for said clutch unit and being readily releasable to permit withdrawal of said clutch unit radially from the transmission without disturbing said driver or any of the gears of said gear set, and both of said coupling means being exible so as to render said clutch unit free to oat so as to accommodate both angular and parallel misalignment between said driver and gear set.

2. In a power transmission, the combination of a driver, a gear set, a clutch unit therebetween for controlling the operation of said gear set, coupling means :connecting said driver in driving relation with said clutch unit, and coupling means connecting said clutch unit in driving relation with said gear set, both of said coupling means being exible to render said clutch unit free to oat so as to accommodate both angular and parallel misalignment between said driver and said gear set.

3. In a power transmission, the combination of a driver, a gear set, and a clutch unit therebetween for controlling the operation of said gear set, said clutch unit including a driving clutch member exibly connected to said driver, a driven clutch member ilexibly connected to said gear set, and means interconnecting said driving and driven clutch members to maintain a coaxial relation therebetween whereby parallel or angular misalignment between said driver and gear set is incapable of imposing objectionable stresses therein or in said clutch unit.

4. In a power transmission, the combination of a driver, a driven mechanism, and a clutch unit therebetween for controlling the operation of said driven mechanism, said clutch unit including a driving clutch member exibly connected to said driver, a driven clutch member flexibly connected to said driven mechanism, and means for main taining a coaxial relation between said driving and driven clutch members while permitting angular displacement of said clutch unit relative to said driver and said driven mechanism to accommodate parallel and angular misalignment between the latter.

5. In a power transmission, the combination of a driver, a driven mechanism including a plurality of shafts, a clutch unit therebetween for controlling the operation of said driven mechanism, said clutch unit including a plurality of selectively engageable clutches, coupling means connecting said driver in driving relation with said clutch unit, and coupling means connecting said clutch unit in driving relation with said driven mechanism, both of said coupling means being exible to render said clutch unit free to oat so as to accommodate parallel and angular misalignment between said driver and said driven mechamsm.

6. In a power transmission, the combination of a driver, a gear set axially spaced therefrom and including a plurality of coaxial shafts, a clutch unit closely confined within the space between said driver and gear set, said clutch unit including a plurality of selectively engageable coaxial clutches, a releasable coupling connecting said driver to said clutch unit, and separate releasable -Coaxial couplings severally connecting said selectively engageable clutches to said shafts, said clutch unit being supported by said couplings, and the arrangement of said couplings -being such that release of said couplings renrders said clutch unit withdrawable radially from between said driver and gear set without disturbing either of the latter.

7. In a power transmission as defined in claim 1, wherein said couplings are exible and said clutch unit is oatingly supported by `and between the same.

8. In a power transmission the combination of a driver, a lgear set axially spaced from said driver and including a plurality of coaxial shafts, a clutch unit between said driver and gear set, said clutch unit including a plurality of selectively -engageable coaxial clutches, a coupling for connecting said driver in driving relation with said clutch unit, and separate coaxial couplings for severally connecting said selectively engageable clutches to said shafts, all of said couplings being exible to render said clutch unit free to accommodate misalignment between said driver and gear set.

v9. A power transmission, as destined in claim 8, wherein said clutch unit includes means for maintaining a coaxial relation between said selectively engageable clutches.

10. A power transmission, as defined in claim 8, wherein said selectively engageable clutches include driving and driven clutch members, 'and interconnecting means for maintaining a coaxial relation between said clutch member.

1l. In a power transmission, the combination of a driver, a gear set axially spaced therefrom, a clutch unit between said driver Vand gear set, a exible coupling supported by said driver -for driving said clutch unit, and a exible coupling supported by said -gear set for driving the same, said couplings being attached to said clutch unit to oatingly support the same whereby said clutch unit is free to accommodate misalignment between said driver and said Igear set.

12. A power transmission, as delined in claim 9, wherein said clutch unit includes driving and driven clutch members, and rigid interconnecting means maintaining a coaxial relation between said clutch members.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,043,406 Denio NOV. 5, 1912 1,790,285 Spase Ian. 27, 1931 1,923,307 Hathaway Aug. 22, 1933 2,167,705 Batten Aug. 1, 1939 2,251,722 Thomas Aug. 5, 1941 2,304,030 Schmitter Dec. 1, 1942 2,357,509 Falk Sept. 5, 1944 2,556,624 Macbeth June l2, 1951 2,565,558 Highberg Aug. 28, 1951 2,582,220 Beckwith Jan. 15, 1952 

